RUSSELL HIVELY: Christian beliefs

Thursday

Jul 18, 2013 at 12:01 AMJul 18, 2013 at 11:02 PM

I saw an interesting happening one morning as I was walking along Wildcat Boulevard.

I saw an interesting happening one morning as I was walking along Wildcat Boulevard. A hawk swooped down and tried to catch a scissor-tailed flycatcher that was pecking at something in the big Neosho High School parking lot. The flycatcher escaped.

I have seen hawks and other birds of prey catch a bird on television, but have not seen a kill. I have also seen an eagle attempt to pluck a fish out of the water. He failed, too. I hope I don’t bring the birds of prey bad luck by watching.

All the birds have interesting events on Wildcat Boulevard. Each has its own traits and habits which provide the casual walker with some new experience each day. Whether it’s hawks, scissor-tailed flycatchers, chimney swifts, crows, bats, or killdeer the birds are fun to watch and to observe their personalities.

Recently, I read a list of “The Top Ten Christian Companies.” Some I have not heard of, but five of the 10 are familiar. First is Chick-fil-A. Its owner has taken a Christian stand on several issues lately. Customers seem to support his right to have Christian beliefs.

Hobby Lobby is privately owned with a mission statement of “...Honoring the Lord in all we do by operating the company in a manner consistent with Biblical principals.”

Tyson Foods is considered a Christian company because it keeps over 1,000 chaplains on its payrolls. The chaplains “provide compassionate pastoral care and ministry to team members and their families regardless of their religious or spiritual affiliation or beliefs.”

ServiceMaster made the top 10 because its founder, Marion E. Wade “viewed each individual employee and customer as being made in God’s image — worthy of dignity and respect.”

Interstate Batteries is a company which has a “self-avowed religious identity and is very open in the God talk in internal training and communication.” It also has chaplains.

Walmart made the top 10 list of Christian companies, because it “has used Christian servant leadership models in building the world’s largest retailer.” Walmart carries Christian books that were once only sold in Christian bookstores.

Take a walk, live your beliefs, watch for pedestrians, use those signal lights, and see what you notice or think about while passing along Wildcat Boulevard.